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Tirayr Muradyan

Hayastan All Armenian Fund Hasn’t Allocated Money for New Housing Projects in Artsakh: Hold-Up Maybe Accountability Issue  

Large-scale urban development programs in Artsakh have yet to be launched with financial assistance from the Hayastan All Armenian Fund. 

Earlier, Artsakh Presidential Chief of Staff Artak Beglaryan told Hetq that "there are some problems" delaying Fund financing.

During a recent trip to Artsakh, Hetq obtained information that major housing projects haven’t been approved since these projects require the signature of President Armen Sarkissian who serves as the Fund’s Board Chairman. 

Fund Executive Director Haykak Arshamyan has yet to ask for Sarkissian’s signature since Sarkissian recently publicly addressed members of the Fund's Board, hoping to ensure the Fund's financial transparency.

In other words, Sarkissian expects transparency from the Armenian government regarding the money collected by the Fund during the recent war. 

To clarify the situation, Hetq wrote to the Fund Executive Director Haykak Arshamyan, asking:

  • Is there a program whose financial portion is not approved since the signature of the RA President is required for approval?
  • Have you applied to the RA President on this matter?
  • When was the last time you communicated directly with the RA President (telephone conversation, meeting, closed correspondence)?

A day later, the Arshamyan sent the following, answering only one of our questions.

"The assistance provided will be continuous. Currently the Fund has developed and plans to implement other large-scale humanitarian assistance programs in Artsakh. Options for several large-scale housing projects for IDPs are currently being developed and will be discussed by the Board of Trustees, and implementation will begin. I always consult with a number of members of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, including the Chairman of the Board," replied Arshamyan.

Hetq wrote to the Fund again, requesting answers to the unanswered questions. We added two more questions.

  • How much money has the Fund allocated since November 9 to projects designed to address the problems caused by the war?
  • How much money is planned to be allocated from the monies available in the Fund for   new housing programs in Artsakh?

Arshamyan only answered the questions about President Armen Sarkissian after our second round of questions. He denied that the lack of the president's signature is an issue, adding that he is in constant contact with all the members of the Fund's board, including the president. Arshamyan did not answer the question as to when he last spoke with Sarkissian. Arshamyan also didn’t specify the amount of funds allocated, or to be allocated, to Artsakh, saying a report will be published in the future.

Hetq addressed the same questions to Armenian President Armen Sarkissian. The President's Office informed us that, following clarifications, they would reply as soon as possible.

Before responding to our inquiry, President Sarkissian returned to Armenia from Great Britain on February 15. The next day he met with Fund Executive Director Haykak Arshamyan.  

Sarkissian’s office released the following statement about the meeting.

"Upcoming programs implemented by the Fund, including humanitarian aid projects in Artsakh, were discussed at the meeting. Armen Sarkissian noted that   he soon plans to convene a special meeting of the Board of Trustees to discuss to discuss steps needed to resolve the Fund’s outstanding management and implementation issues.”

Hetq then rote to the President Sarkissian again and received the following reply.

"All the programs of the foundation are in progress, because there is no issues with the program. The President of the Republic communicates with the Executive Director of the Fund as well as the members of the Board of Trustees on issues related to the Fund's activities, if necessary. After returning from treatment, the President had one of the first meetings with the Executive Director of the Foundation on February 16.”

The Fund has not released any statement on the meeting of Sarkissian and Arshamyan.

Photo: Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, Hayastan All Armenian Fund Executive Director Haykak Arshamyan

Comments (1)

any one in the west
That's why I didn't send money to this organization : we cannot trust anyone there. No transparency , no anti-corruption supervision , No honnesty NO CHRISTIANISM . Thieves, on each level . WHEN will there be positive changings in Armenia ?? ( I give some money to privates, directly )

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